The Real Risks of Texting and Driving

The message is clear: Texting and driving can be fatal. So why do teens continue to pick up their phones behind the wheel?

"We think we can use them in the car and be fine," says Emily, 20. But she knows better: Her sister was killed by a driver who wasn't paying attention to the road.Photographed by Mitchell Feinberg

Five years ago on a bright June day, then-20-
year-old Amanda Kloehr went about her usual
cell phone routine: "Updating my Facebook
status, reading other people's updates, and
texting," she says. But she wasn't at home or even in
class—she was behind the wheel of her car, cruising
down U.S. Route 13 at a highway speed. Amanda
couldn't have known that moments later her distracted
driving would cause her to slam into the tractor-trailer
in front of her with enough force to push the entire vehicle
forward six feet. "I shouldn't have lived," she says
now, still shaken. "I could have been decapitated."

Instead, Amanda lost her right eye. It took 36
plates and 48 screws to rebuild her face. And more
than 20 surgeries later, the road to recovery still
stretches out before her. "I'm in pain everywhere all
the time," she says, "but I know I'm lucky to be alive."

It's enough to send chills down your spine, a story
so harrowing it would seem to send all drivers a clear
message not to text. Except it doesn't. In 2011 alone,
three years after Amanda's accident, 3,331 people were
killed in car accidents involving distracted drivers, and
an additional 387,000 others were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
And while there are many different types of driving
distractions—swiping on a coat of mascara, fiddling
with the radio, messing around with friends in the
car—texting can be especially risky. "Teens may think
sending a quick text, e-mail, or Facebook update is safer
than talking on the phone, but it actually does three
dangerous things: It removes the mind from driving,
removes your hands from the wheel, and removes your
eyes from the road," explains Sandy Spavone, executive
director of the National Organizations for Youth Safety.

Twenty-two-year-old Sontiana Brandts knows
these dangers all too well. One January morning
shortly after turning sixteen, she was driving her
brother to a wrestling tournament while arguing with
a friend via text. She began to veer out of her lane.
"I overcorrected and ended up rolling my minivan,"
she explains. "I was ejected from the car and was in
a coma for two weeks. Now I'm paralyzed from the
chest down for the rest of my life."

A commercial vehicle study from the Virginia
Tech Transportation Institute reveals that text
messaging diverts a driver's attention from the road for
an average of 4.6 seconds. If you're going 55 miles per
hour, that's equivalent to driving the length of an entire
football field blindfolded. But this hypothetical football
field isn't just you and open space—it's you, other cars,
and drivers with their own distractions. It's no wonder
the same study found that texting behind the wheel
means you're 23 times more likely to get into a crash.

Even in light of these astounding statistics, and
with stars like Justin Bieber, Victoria Justice, and Jordin Sparks speaking out about the hazards of texting and driving, too many adolescents continue the habit. According
to last year's AT&T Teen Driver Survey, 97 percent
of fifteen- to nineteen-year-olds understand the
dangers, but 43 percent do it anyway. "The majority of
us grew up with cell phones, so we feel a huge dependence
on them," explains 20-year-old Emily Reynolds,
whose older sister, Cady, was struck by a driver who was distracted. At just sixteen years old, Cady was
found brain-dead at the scene and died in the hospital
the following morning. "We haven't learned to live
without phones," Emily acknowledges, "so we think
that when we start driving, we can use them in the car
and be fine." As the primary mode of communication
for most teens, texting can seem urgent enough that
you feel the need to reply instantly, even while driving.
"It's considered rude if you don't respond right
away because there's a back-and-forth going on,"
notes Spavone. In fact, according to a new study by
Toyota and the University of Michigan Transportation
Research Institute, 19 percent of teen girls own up to
not just sending or reading one message but to having
extended conversations while they're on the road.

Of course, no text discussion is important enough
to risk losing your life or taking someone else's. And
messaging behind the wheel isn't only a choice you're
making but likely a law you're breaking: 39 states plus
Washington, D.C., ban texting for all motorists. Distracted
drivers are also facing harsher punishments for their
actions: Last year, a Massachusetts teen was sentenced
to jail after he collided with an oncoming car, killing the
other driver and seriously injuring the driver's passenger.
His license has been suspended for fifteen years.

When it comes to maximizing your safety behind
the wheel, turning off your phone is simply the best
option. And don't be afraid to speak up, no matter
where in the car you're sitting: If you're riding with someone
who's texting, be honest and tell her it makes you
uncomfortable. If the driver's phone rings or receives
an incoming message, offer to answer it for her. After
all, the end to texting and driving starts right here, right
now, with you. Take it from Amanda, who knows what
it's like to feel invincible. "I thought the very same
thing," she says. "But life will be so much easier for you
if you don't have to learn to walk again like I did. Trust
me: A text message just isn't worth it."

Here's how to put an end to the trend:

Make the Promise
Deciding not to text and drive is a big commitment, but it's one that could save
your life. That's why Teen Vogue has teamed up with Toyota to create the Arrive in Style campaign, a promise we're asking you to make to yourself,
your parents, and us that you'll leave the phone out of the equation—and avoid distracted driving altogether.Go to teenvogue.com/arriveinstyle right now to take the pledge.

Wear the Promise
Because we know the flashing screen on your passenger seat can be tempting, we've partnered with Dogeared to create a promise ring that serves as a visual reminder of your pledge to keep your hands on the wheel.Buy it at dogeared.com/pledgering and share the message with your family and friends.

Keep the Promise
Download one of these apps to your phone—they practically keep your commitment for you, making it easier than ever to stay out of the dangerous
texting-behind-the-wheel game.AT&T DriveMode automatically sends a customizable reply to incoming messages when your car reaches 25 miles per hour.DriveScribe can block all incoming calls and texts on Android phones and allows you to earn gift cards by driving smart.DriveSafe.ly reads your messages out loud and lets you respond verbally so you can keep your eyes on the road.